UK/South African partners for Dance For Me: Lake
The Aurora-chosen feature project Dance for Me will be shot in Australia and South Africa, possibly as a UK-Australia co-production, according to producer Trish Lake.
“I plan to visit there to discuss the film with potential production people later this year,” Lake told Encore.
Dance For Me was written by Roger Monk and will be produced in conjunction with Cathy Henkel. It tells the story of a white South African woman brutally attacked in her home in suburban Johannesburg; her estranged daughter, Miriam, reluctantly returns from Australia and is forced to confront her troubled relationship with her mother.
There is currently no official co-production treaty or MoU with South Africa, but Lake said that the project could be financed through the UK instead.
“If it were to be an official co-production for financing, it would probably be with a UK co-production partner with some South African financial and production involvement too.”
Last year, Disgrace director Steve Jacobs told Encore that the South African government had promised a rebate but failed to provide it.
“I found that disappointing and a reflection on a system which is not solid and definitely not trustworthy,” said Jacobs in May 2009.
Trish Lake, however, is confident that Dance for Me will be a more pleasant experience for her team.
“We’ve done research too about filming in South Africa, and we’re actually optimistic that we will have a good experience there. Cathy is originally from South Africa and has great connections, and Roger has been to SA several times now to work on story elements,” she said.
The project will start the Aurora development program in late April.
